New Publication on Co-Designing Digital Sleep Education for Students

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new research article in Cogent Education, highlighting the co-design of a digital sleep education program for university students.

Rather than developing a conventional top‑down intervention, this project was built around a co-design approach, actively involving students alongside researchers, educators, and interdisciplinary experts throughout the entire development process. From early concept development to content creation and implementation, students contributed their perspectives, needs, and lived experiences.

This continuous collaboration enabled the team to move beyond simply transferring existing sleep research into a digital format, the Moodle-course Sleep Good - Feel Good. Instead, the program was shaped iteratively, ensuring that scientific knowledge was translated into formats and strategies that are meaningful, accessible, and applicable to everyday student life.

The publication illustrates how co-design can strengthen both the relevance and effectiveness of health education in higher education contexts. By integrating student input, the project was able to address real challenges, such as irregular schedules, academic stress, and digital habits, while fostering a sense of ownership and engagement among learners.

In addition, the article discusses how combining co-design with digital learning formats opens new opportunities for scalable, evidence-based health promotion. It demonstrates how interactive and reflective elements can be used to support not only knowledge acquisition but also self-awareness and behavioral change.

Overall, this work contributes to the growing field of participatory and digital health education, offering practical insights into how co-created interventions can better support student health and well-being.

The full article is available open access here:
Schmickler, J. M., Vilgertshofer, C. L., Kaiser, L., & Mess, F. (2026). Development of an online sleep education program for university students: a Co-design approach. Cogent Education, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2026.2674401